Armor For Beginners Armor for Beginners Selecting the Right Armor / Armor Resources Armor and its composite pieces were known by a number of different names during the Middle Ages. While this list is by no means exhaustive or absolute, it provides the most often-used names for armor pieces in general. Please note that these pieces would have been named differently depending on the part of the world and the time period. Aketon - see gambeson. Arming Cap - a type of cap worn underneath a helmet. It could be either a quilted coif or a smaller helmet worn underneath a larger one. Arming Doublet - see gambeson. Armor - any protective covering worn upon the body like clothing. This does not include shields. Also a historical word describing an entire set of armor. Medieval sources do not refer to ï¿½a suit of armor,ï¿½ but rather ï¿½an armorï¿½ or ï¿½a harness.ï¿½ Besagews - also sometimes called roundels, besagews were usually round plates that hung from the shoulder over the front of the armpit to protect the usually mailed joint. Besagews are only found on later-period plate armors, mainly for jousting.

Bracers - armor that covers the forearms. Sometimes referred to as vambraces. Derived from the French word for ï¿½arm.ï¿½ Breastplate - as the name implies, a breastplate is the piece of armor that covers the chest. Sometimes the term breastplate can refer to a set of pieces that cover both the front and back. Often it refers to the front part of a cuirass. Camail - the mail drape from the bottom of a helmet that protects the neck and throat. Chausses - protection for the legs, from the thighs down over the feet. Usually, the term chausses refers to mail armor for the legs. Otherwise, see cuisses, poleyns, greaves and sabatons. Derived from the French word for ï¿½hose.ï¿½ Coif - an armored hood. Often made of mail, but sometimes quilted. Comes from the French word for ï¿½hair.ï¿½ Couter - elbow defense. Cuirass - a defense for the front and back of the torso. The front part is often referred to as the breastplate, although a cuirass can also include a plackard.

Derived from the French word for ï¿½leather,ï¿½ as early cuirasses were made from leather. Cuisses - a defense for the thigh. Cuisses sometimes wrap all the way around the thigh to protect both the front and the back, and may be attached to the poleyns. Derived from the French word for ï¿½thigh.ï¿½ Faulds - defenses for the upper thigh. They often hang from the plackard and cover the unarmored space between the plackard and the cuisses. Sometimes referred to as tassets. Gambeson - a quilted jacket worn underneath the armor, both to protect against pinching by the armor and to act as a kind of cushion to absorb the impact that armor would otherwise transfer to the body. In some cases, a thick gambeson was the only armor worn at all by poorer troops. Sometimes called an arming doublet or aketon, depending on the time and place from which the armor comes. Gauntlets - hand defenses.

They can be either ï¿½mittenï¿½ gauntlets, in which the fingers are all armored collectively, or ï¿½fingerï¿½ gauntlets in which each finger is armored separately. In addition, there are ï¿½demi-gauntletsï¿½ or ï¿½half-gauntletsï¿½ in which only the back of the hand and wrist are protected, but the fingers are not. Gorget - an armored collar that protects the throat. Sometimes strapped directly to the breastplate. These were worn relatively rarely in the Middle Ages, as they interfere with neck flexibility. However, they are recommended for many modern re-enactors because they defend against injury to the upper spinal column. Derived from the French word for ï¿½throat.ï¿½ Greaves - lower leg defenses. Greaves can protect just the shin, or both the shin and calf. Greaves can be attached the the poleyns and sabatons, and are sometimes also called jambs. Harness - a word used in the Middle Ages that often referred to an entire suit of armor. Hauberk - a name for the mail shirt.

Hauberks can also be referred to as haubergeons and byrnies, depending on the length of the mail shirt and the time and place in which the armor was worn. Hauberks in one form or another were one of the most popular pieces of armor to be worn throughout the medieval era. Derived from the Old English word for ï¿½hoodï¿½ because the coif was often integrated with early hauberks. Helm/Helmet - armored head protection. A helm is generally a fully-enclosed helmet that rests close to the shoulders when worn, and may be won on top of an arming cap or coif. A helmet is merely any sort of armored head covering. Jamb - see greaves. Derived from the French word for ï¿½leg.ï¿½ Plackard - a separate lower torso defense. Often the lower half of a cuirass. A plackard often has faulds attached. Pauldrons - shoulder plates. Pauldrons often also protect the upper arm and are generally found on later-period armor in place of spaulders. They can be attached to the gorget in some armors.

Derived from the French word for ï¿½shoulder.ï¿½ Poleyns - knee protection. Often attached to both the cuisses and the greaves. Roundels - see besagews. Sabatons - foot protection. Sabatons are generally not found on most armors, except for expensive later-period armors. Once in a while, foot armor is made of mail, but this is not properly a sabaton. Generally attached to the greaves. Spaulders - armor that covers the point of the shoulder and the upper arm. Spaulders are often replaced by pauldrons in later armors. Derived from the French word for ï¿½shoulder.ï¿½ Tassets - see faulds. Armor Glossary Armor Glossary July 27, 2013, 12:27 am 2.5k Views A Ailette A flat plate of leather or parchment which tied to the point of the shoulder. Worn between 1250-1350 to display the owner’s coat of arms. Aketon A padded and quilted garment, usually of linen, worn under or instead of plate or mail.

Almain Rivet A munition-grade half-armor imported from Germany in the early 16th Century. Anime Splinted armor of overlapped horizontal plates for the torso. Armet Originating in the fifteenth century, a helmet of Italian origin consisting a skull, two hinged cheek pieces which lock at the front, and a visor. Arming doublet Quilted garment worn under armor from the early fifteenth century, equipped with points to attach mail gussets and pieces of armor. See also arming points. Arming points Ties (usually of flax or twine) by which armor was secured in place to the arming doublet. See also arming doublet. Aventail A curtain of mail attached by means of vervelles around the base of a helmet (typically the bascinet), protecting the neck and covering the shoulders. See also bascinet, vervelles. B Piece of plate armor protecting the back half of the torso. Banded Maille A largely discounted Victorian concept of maille with leather “bands” woven through it. The origin of the term seems to stem from misinterpretations of artistic shortcuts in representing maille armor in illustrations and effigies. See also maille.

Barbote A high bevor with a falling lame containing eyeslits; used in Spain. See also bevor. Barbute Also called barbut, barbuta. An open-faced, usually shoulder-length Italian helmet, made in one piece, with a T-shaped face opening. Barbuta is the Italian term. A Bard A full horse armor, which could include a crinet, crupper, flanchard, peytral, shaffron. Bascinet, Basinet An open-faced helmet with a globular or conical skull enclosing the sides of the face and neck. Usually worn with and aventail, and occasionally a visor. See also aventail, hunskull, visor. Bellows Visor A modern term for a visor with horizontal ridges, such as on ‘Maximilian’ German fluted armors of the early sixteenth century. Besagew Defensive circular plate suspended over the wearer’s armpit. Bevor Also called bavier or buffe. A chin-shaped defense for the lower face, incorporating a gorget plate. The buffe was an early sixteenth century variant, worn strapped to an open-faced helmet such as the burgonet. Birnie Also called byrnie.

A mail shirt. See also hauberk. Bishop’s Mantle Modern term for the cape of mail worn (largely in Germany) in the early sixteenth century. Blueing An oxidized blue surface on plate armor, produced through heat treatment. Bouche The notch cut in the top (dexter) corner of a shield, to rest the lance when jousting. Bracer Early fourteenth century form of defence for the lower arm; also a term for an archer’s arm guard to protect the forearm from the bowstring. Breast Plate Piece of armor that protects the front of the torso. Breaths Holes or slits in the visor of a helmet or the lames of a falling buff or bevor, for ventilation; also usually permitting a degree of extra vision. Brigandine A flexible body defence consisting of a large number of metal plates riveted inside a cloth covering. Buckler Small round shield carried by infantry. Buffe see bevor and falling buffe. Burgonet A light, open-faced helmet popular in the sixteenth century as an alternative to the close-helmet for light cavalry. It was usually furnished with a peak over the brow, a combed skull, and hinged ear pieces.

The face opening could be closed with the addition of a falling buffe. Byrnie C Cabacete A type of Spanish war hat (popular thoughout fifteenth century Europe) with a turned-down brim and an almond-shaped skull ending in a stalk. See also morion. Cabasset see aventail. Cannon Individual plate armor defence, of tubular form, for the upper and lower arm. See also vambrace and rerebrace. Case-hardening A method (described in the twelth century treatise ‘De Diversis Atibus’ by Theophilus the Monk) for surface hardening wrought iron(or low carbon steel) by packing it in charcoal or other organic material and heating it for hours above 900 degrees Celsius. Casque, casquetal A light open helmet; usually late fifteeth to mid-sixteenth century helmets of ‘antique’ form, such as Italian parade ‘casques’ of the mid-sixteenth century, embossed with grotesques or fashioned in the classical style. These were often similiar in shape to the burgonet. Celata Open-faced Italian sallet, common in the fifteenth century. Cervelliere Steel skull cap, typically worn under a great helm.

Chapel de Fer Also called a kettle hat. A simple open-faced helmet with a wide brim. Chainmail Erroneous Victorian era term for maille armor. See also Maille. Charnel The hinged staple or bolt that secured the fourteenth century helm or great basinet to the breast and backplate. Chausses Mail protection for the legs, either in the form of mail hose or strips of mail laced round the front of the leg. Close-helmet Helmet which, with a full visor and bevor, completely encloses the head and face; modern use of the term tends to refer not to helmets with hinged cheek-pieces opening at the front (the armet) but visored helmets pivoting open on bolts or rivets each side of the skull. Contemporary usage, however, makes no such distinction. Coat armor A quilted garment worn over armor in the fourteenth century. Coat of fence Also called fence, jack, or brigandine. A doublet or tunic lined with small metal plates or, more rarely, just padded with stuffing of tow. See also brigandine and jack. Coat of plates Also called a pair of plates or simply plates.

A cloth garment with a number of large plates riveted inside, worn in the fourteenth century. Cod-piece Fabric covering for the groin, latterly padded. Its counter part in armor could be either mail or, more usually, plate. Coif A hood, usually of mail; by the twelfth century it often incorporated a ventail which could be pulled across the lower part of the face. Collar see gorget. Comb The keel-shaped ridge, often very pronounced, that passes from front to back of a helmet over the skull, conferring extra strength and rigidity and contributing to its glancing surfaces. In the mid-sixteenth century, the combs of morion helmets were raised and enloarged to an excessive height for ‘fashionable’ reasons. Corslet Also spelled corselet. A light half-armor popular in the sixteenth century for general military use (for example, town guards). It consisted of a gorget, breast, back and tassets, full arms and gauntlets; the term can also be applied to the cuirass only. Couter Also spelled cowter. Plate defence for the elbow. Crinet Defence for a horse’s neck.

See also bard, crupper, flanchard, peytral, shaffron. Crupper Defence for a horse’s rump. See also bard, crinet, flanchard, peytral, shaffron. Crest A heraldric recognitive device fixed to the top of the great helm, introduced in the second half of the thirteenth and in wide use by the fourteenth century. Cuirass Also called pair of curates. A backplate and breastplate designed to be worn together. Cuir Bouilli Leather hardened by immersion in boiled water or wax, and then dried over a form. Earlier armors meant to supplement maille defenses were made of such leather and the medium was a popular one for tooling and embossing. Cuirie A 13th Century torso defense, originally made of leather. Cuisses, Cuishes A defense for the rump, comprised of overlapping lames. D Damascening A metalworking process for the inlaying of decorative metals, such as gold and silver, into other metallic surfaces. E A gauntlet whose cuff reaches the elbow, obviating both vambrace and couter. Espalier See Spaulder.

Etching A metalworking process for applied for decorative purposes to the surface of armor plates. Often used in conjunction with blueing, gilding, etc. Exchange Pieces Supplementary armor pieces which could be added to, or exchanged with, those comprising a harness in order to customize said harness for particular applications, ie. jousting, fighting at the barrier, etc. F Falling Buffe 16th Century armor for the throat and lower face. It evolved from the bevor and was comprised of several lames, retained in place by spring catchs, which could be lowered for better ventilation and vision. Fan Plate Projection from an elbow or knee cop designed to prevent a blow from wrapping around and landing in the joint. Fauld armor, usually composed of horizontal lames, attached to the bottom edge of a breastplate to protect the abdomen. Flanchard A plate attaching to the base of a saddle, protecting the flanks of a horse. This closed the gap between the crupper and the peytral. See also bard, crinet, crupper, peytral, shaffron. G Gadlings Protruding studs, sometimes of zoomorphic form, on the finger and knuckle joints of a gauntlet.

Particulary popular late in the 14th Century on fingered gauntlets. Gambeson A quilted doublet of cloth, stuffed with tow, wool, or other materials. They appear to have been worn over maille armors, under them, and instead of them at times. There is confusion and ongoing debate over the exact meanings of this word and the related term aketon. Gamboised Cuisses Padded, quilted thigh defenses of the late 13th and early 14th Centuries. Gardbrace Reinforcing plate shaped to fit over and augment the pauldron on Italian 15th Century armors. These were attached to the pauldron by means of a staple and pin. Garniture A complete plate armor that also features many exchange pieces; 16th Century. Gauntlet armor for the hand, initially of maille, later a plate defense. Gilding Plating with a thin layer of gold. Gorget Piece of armor protecting the throat. May be a simple collar or a more elaborate design composed of several pieces.

Gothic German armor of the late 15th Century, characterized by a slim angular line, cusping, fluting, and fan-shaped designs. Grand Guard A reinforcing piece of armor, attached to the left side of the breastplate and covering the left shoulder, upper arm, left side of the breastplate, and left side of the visor. Designed for use in the tilt. Great Helm See Helm. Greave Also called earlier a jamber or schynbald. A defense for the lower leg, originally only defending the shin, but later including a hinged ‘door’ to defend the calf. Greenwich armor English armor produced at the royal workshops established by Henry VIII in the early 16th Century. Guard chains Chains which affixed the sword, dagger, and helm to the breastplate, to prevent them from being lost in battle. These seem to be popular only in the 14th Century. Guige Strap attached to the back side of a shield by which it could be slung about the bearer’s neck.

Gusset A 15th Century piece of maille, sewn or pointed to the arming doublet, used to cover the armpit and portions of the arm left exposed by the plate armor. Also, a 16th Century laminated defense for the armpit of a breastplate. H A short type of hauberk. The terms are often used indiscriminately. Hauberk A mail shirt reaching to somewhere between the knee and hip and including sleeves. Sometimes , the term refers to similarly shaped garments made with scale. Haute-piece Upstanding neck guard attached to the pauldron. Heater shield A form of knightly shield which appeared in the 13th Century, shaped like the bottom of a flat iron. Heaume See helm. Helm, Great Helm An all-enveloping helmet which enclosed the entire head and face, reaching almost to the shoulders. Originally cylindrical in form. Arising in the early 13th Century, by the late 14th it was primarly restricted to the joust.

Hunskull An English corruption of the German hundsgugel (dog head), a nickname for a pointed visor found on bascinets of the late 14th and early 15th Centuries. I J Jack A defensive jacket or doublet either of linen stuffed with tow, or lined with small metal plates. Jamb Also called jamber, jambart, or jambiere. An early medieval term for leg armor (schynbald). See also greave. Jupon A padded garment worn over the armor, fitted in the torso, c.1350-1410. Alternately, a tightly fitted and usually sleeveless garment worn over the armor and displaying the wearer’s arms. K Kastenbrust A modern term describing a type of angular breastplate popular in Germany between 1420 and 1450. Kettle hat An open-faced helmet consisting of a bowl and a broad brim, resembling the British ‘tin hats’ of World War I. Also called a ‘Chapel de Fer’. Kite-shaped shield A large, elongated triangular shield with a rounded top used throughout Europe from the 10th to the 13th Century.

It is commonly associated with the Normans. Klappvisier A modern term for a globular visor worn in Germany in the 14th Century on bascinets. It was hinged at the front of the skull of the helmet and covered only the area unprotected by the aventail. L A narrow strip or plate of steel, sometimes used in armor to provide articulation. Lamellar armor armor consisting of small plates laced together to give a rigid defense. Of Near Eastern origin, it was used throughout the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe, but was not common in the West. Lance rest A support for the lance when couched; it was bolted to the right side of the breastplate and was often hinged. Latten Copper alloy of varying formulation. Modern brass and bronze would be considered latten in the Middle Ages. Latten was often used in the decoration of arms and armor. M Mail, Maille A flexible defense of interlinked and riveted rings of metal; its origin appears to be Celtic. In most European cases, each link passes through four others and the garment is shaped through the addition or subtraction of rings in appropriate places.

Manifer A plate defense for the lower part of the left arm and hand, usually constructed in one piece and designed for the joust. ‘Maximillian’ armor A modern term applied to a style of early 16th Century armor characterized by narrow, parallel fluting. It was popular during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I (1494-1519) and until the middle of the century. Mitten gauntlet A gauntlet with articulated transverse lames covering the fingers, rather than the fingers each being separately protected by a series of articulated plates. Morion A 16th Century development of the kettle hat, widely used by infantry and consisting of a skull with a broad brim, flat or turned down at the sides, but which sweeps upward into a peak at the front and rear. There are two main types: the so-called Spanish Morion, or Cabasset, which has an almond-shaped skull ending with a stalk-like projection, clearly derived from the Cabacete, and the Comb Morion, which has a high central comb along the apex of the skull. Hated above all other helmets by Arador’s webmaster.

Muffler A mitten-like extension to the sleeve of a hauberk with a hole at the wrist that allowed the wearer to remove his hand. ‘Munition armor’ Mass-produced, cheaply made armor for the common soldiery, produced in very large quantities at the beginning of the 16th Century. See also Almain rivet. Munnions Articulated lames, often attached to the gorget, protecting the shoulders and upper arms. N Nasal Plate defense on early medieval helmets, often riveted to the bottom of the skull to cover the nose and middle of the face. Niello A decorative black inlay used to best effect on a surface of silver or gold. A compound of sulphur combined with silver, lead, and a small quantity of copper, it is fixed in place by heat. O The eyeslits in a helmet. P A plate reinforcement for the left elbow of armor for the joust. Pauldron Piece of armor covering the shoulder. Usually large, covering the upper 1/3 of the torso. Pavise Large, usually rectangular shield carried by infantrymen and frequently used in siege work to protect archers and crossbowmen.

The largest were equipped with a prop to support them. Peytral Horse armor designed to protect the horse’s chest. See also bard, crinet, crupper, flanchard, shaffron. Pieces of Exchange See Exchange pieces. Pigface An erroneous modern term for referring to the visor on a hunskull visored bascinet. See also hunskull, bascinet. Plackart A plate reinforcement attached to the breastplate, which at first covered the lower half but latterly, especially on Italian armors, covered nearly the entire breastplate. Plate armor armor made of rigid iron or steel plates. Platemail An erroneous Victorian era term for referring to plate armor or plate and maille hybrids. See also plate armor, maille. Plates Reinforcement for the right arm on jousting armor. Poleyn A cup-shaped plate defense for the knee, usually equipped with a side wing of heart shape. Pomme A spherical decoration for a helmet, often gilded and worn instead of a crest in the 15th Century. Pot General term for a simple, common soldier’s helmet (usually of morion type, such as the ‘pikeman’s pot’).

Proof armor ‘of proof’ is made sufficiently thick or hard to resist a shot from bow or musket. The term first occurs in the texts of early medieval romances. ‘Puffed and slashed’ armor Embossed armor, often etched and gilt, resembling a style of dress popular in early 16th Century Germany; where ‘puffs’ of colored material were pulled through ‘slashes’ in the sleeves or body of the garment. Q Queue A shaped iron bar bolted to early 16th Century jousting armors to hold down and steady the rear of the lance, enabling it to be levelled and aimed more easily. R Rennhut A heavy, one-piece sallet designed for the Rennen, a type of German joust fought with sharp lances. Renntartsche A large shield of wood and leather reinforced with metal, covering the whole of the wearer’s body and bevor. It screwed to the breastplate and bevor. Designed for the German Rennen. Rerebrace Piece of armor covering the upper arm from the elbow to the shoulder. Rennzeug armor designed for the Rennen. Rump guard An oblong plate hung from the lower edge of the culet on 15th Century armors.

S Piece of armor covering the foot. Sometimes called a solleret. Saddle steel Protective steel plates for the front (bow) and back (cantle) of a war or joust saddle. Sallet A light helmet either fitted with a visor or open-faced, varying in form, having a tail to protect the neck. Known in England as a salade. Scale armor armor made of small, overlapping scales or plates sewn or laced to a cloth garment. Scalemail An erroneous Victorian era term for scale armor. See also scale armor. Schynbalds A plate defense for the lower leg which protected only the shin and was strapped over the chausses. See Greave. Shaffron Also called a chaffron, chanfron. Defense for a horse’s head. Forms covering only the upper part of the head became popular in the mid-16th Century (demi-shaffron). See also bard, crinet, crupper, flanchard, peytral. Sight The vision slit in a helmet or visor. Also called occularium. Skull The part of a helmet covering the top, back, and sides of the head above the ears.

It can also denote a simple metal cap. Solleret See Sabaton. Spangenhelm A modern term for conical helmets constructed of a number of segments riveted together; descended from Late Roman prototypes. ‘Spanish morion’ Piece of armor covering the shoulder joint. Not as large as a pauldron. Splint Light arm defenses used in the 15th and 16th Centuries, gutter-shaped and intended to protect only the outside of the arm, they were often found on cheap armors intended for infantry use and on certain types of German armor. See also Almain rivet. Standard A maille collar common in the 15th Century. Stechhelm A ‘frog-mouthed’ form of great helm, worn for the Gestech (a type of German tournament), bolted to the breastplate. Stechsack A thickly padded bumper for the horse’s chest, hung round its neck to protect the rider’s legs, worn for the German Gestech. Stechtartsche A small rectangular wooden shield for the Gestech, suspended by cords from the breastplate. Stechzeug armor designed for the Gestech.

Stop rib Small metal bar riveted to plate armor to stop the point of a weapon sliding into a joint or opening. Surcoat Flowing garment worn over armor form the 12th Century. Sometimes sleeved, sometimes sleeveless, it usually reached to mid-calf. Later, it was shortened and in the 14th Century developed into the jupon. T Tabard Short, open-sided garment with short sleeves used to display the wearer’s arms. Often worn by heralds. Target A small circular shield. Tasset A defense for the top of the thigh, hung from the fauld by straps to cover the gap between cuisses and breastplate. They first appear in the 15th Century. Tilting socket Large plate reinforcing cuisses which provided protection for the thighs and knees and hung from either side of the saddle. Also called a gard-cuisse. Tonlet Also called a base. A deep, hooped skirt of steel worn on foot combat armors in the late 15th and early 16th Centuries. Trapper An all-enveloping textile cover for a horse, reaching to the fetlocks and leaving only the eyes, ears, and nose uncovered. It often displayed the rider’s arms.

Turning-joint An enclosed circular joint above the elbow, enabling the arm to twist. A flange on the rim of the upper cannon of the vambrace rotates inside an embossed groove along the lower edge of the rerebrace. U Umbo A shield boss, usually in the centre of a shield, covering and protecting the hand as it holds the grip. V Piece of armor covering the lower arm from the wrist to the elbow. Ventail An integral flap of maille attached to the coif in the 13th Century; it could be drawn across the mouth to protect the lower face. Vervelles Staples attached to the base of a bascinet for the attachment of an aventail. See also bascinet, aventail. Visor Protection for the eyes and face; a plate defense pivoted to a helmet’s skull. W A modern term for a plate armor of plain, polished steel. Wrapper A reinforcing piece for an armet or other helmet which was strapped about the helmet and protected the lower half of the face. X Y Z And don’t forget to read our guide on how to make armor , it’s great for beginners.

ARMOUR | Helmets, Gauntlets, Suit of Armor, Shields - wulflund.com Helmets Historical Helmets - Celtic Helmets (Iron Age Helmets), Roman and Greek Helmets, Viking and Norman Helmets, Medieval Helmets (sallets, pig face basinet helmets, visor helmets, pot helmets etc), Hussar Helmets (Winged Hussars of Poland), Japanese Helmets, helmets with riveted chainmail aventails and more. Helmets are usually made of sheet steel with a thickness of 1.0mm, 1.5mm or 2 mm plate. 80% of the population fits into the periphery 58cm to 60 cm head circumference, but we attempt to maintain a healthy stock of all sizes of all helmets. Helmets are made to order, so take advantage of this option and tell us your head dimensions, in accordance with the figure. Always include the exact circumference of your head and information about what you wear underneath the helmet (eg. padded cap). If you do not already own padding, we can recommend a padded arming cap to order from our menu. Helmets require similar care to swords, chainmail etc.

After battle keep them in a dry environment and keep lightly oiled. Armor Parts If you don't want to buy full suit of armour now, you can do it step by step. For this purpose we have opened our category of Armor Parts Steel Gauntlets, Greaves, Iron Vambraces, Gorgets, Pauldrons, Couters, Tassets, Breastplates, Poleyns (for knees), Cuisse, Besagews, Lance Rests and more. Leather Armour/Gloves This category gives you an opportunity to buy quality leather armour (Viking, Medieval, Renaissance re-enactment or Fantasy/LARP). We have a large offer of bracers that can be hand-carved (also custom-made to match a picture that you may wish to send us by email) or decorated by different stones or talismans. For example: we produce leather swordsman's gloves with arm protectors to suit Viking reenactors. Shields Are you interested in living history? Yes? Try our wooden leather Celtic or Viking shields, this is top product that owns for example University of Sorbona. For Historical Medieval Battles (HMB) fighters there are also suitable metal (iron or steel) gothic plate battle-ready shields.

We also offer fully functional wooden gothic and viking re-enactment shields, iron shield bosses or other leather-covered wooden shields (for example - Roman gladiator shields). Iron and wooden battle ready Medieval shields, painted decorative shields, Viking round shields, pavises, wooden Shields and fist shields. JV Armoury JV Armoury is considered by many people as one of the most professional armoury in the Czech Republic and also in Europe. In present times there are really very few armourers who are specialized in authentic production like in the old times. Technologies of cold-working and heat-forging are used. Steel plates are bent and not hammered into "bowls", so the thickness of the material is maintained. All helmets and armour parts are custom made and we respect the customer's specific requirements. After placing an order you will be informed how to measure, and we will agree on all details incl. delivery times. Production of JV armoury is limited, and an emphasis on the best quality is maintained. Material that is used: usually 2 mm thick for helmets. The Pieces of Armor and Their Functions The Pieces of Armor and Their Functions Pictured below are the various pieces of armor I wear.

These are exact replicas of the pieces of armor worn by a knight of the 15th century. The armor was constructed by Christian Fletcher to custom fit my body and is made of medieval steel or mild steel and brass. Click on any of the images to get a closeup view of the piece or armor. This helmet is called a sallet helmet because of the ridges on top. These glancing ridges are made to strengthen the top of the helmet and to deflect or cause weapons to glance off the skull of the knight to avoid the full force of the blow. The front view of the helmet reveals breathing holes. The holes that are narrower were turned toward the sound of arrows to prevent them from going through the larger breathing holes on the right side of the helmet. The chain mail is worn around the waist and around the neck and over the shoulders and head. This gave flexible protection so the knight could turn his head to the left and right and turn at his waist, lift his leg to get on his horse and even run in the armor. Click on the picture to see a closer image and learn how it is constructed. The sabaton is the steel shoe worn over a thick leather moccassin. The greave is worn over the shin and calf.

It lies here open to show you the two pieces attached by a hinge and pressed together on the other side around the knights leg with a pin going through a receiving hole. This is the quisse which is placed over the knee and thigh of the knight. The side wing is designed to prevent a foot soldier from stabbing the back of the knight's leg. The breast plate and the backplate behind it are strapped together over the shoulder and then hooked together on either side with a pin and hole arrangement. The paldrons are worn over the knights arms and shoulders. They are strapped together behind his neck with a thick belt. The elbows have a special shield to protect the crook in his arm. This medallion like object is called a bezagew. This is the French word for armpit and it is designed to slip quickly under the knight's arm when he raises his sword in battle because the knight has no other armor under his arm. The gauntlet is worn over the hand. A deer skin glove has iron and brass attached to it with rivets. This dragon is engraved on the handle of my sword. The dragon was a symbol of Satan.

The knight's sword was a symbol of the Word of God which is called the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6. Also knights, I believe, did kill dragons back in the early middle ages. These were dragons left over from the era of the dinosaur. This is the pommel of the sword. It is hollow. The nut on the end is removed when the knight receives his sword and into it he places a lock of his lady's hair and a small scroll on which he has written the verse from Ephesians 6 about the armor of God. armour Aillettes 9 Small rectangular plates (apparently of cuir bouilli) which were attached to the shoulders to protect the shoulder and neck. Aketon 10-12 or 13 Padded cloth body armour, worn underneath (or occasionally over) heavier armour to absorb impact. Heavier versions were often worn by less well equipped troops or in hot weather as comfortable light armour. Sleeveless Armet Close-fitting, full helmet, with (normally) a heavy visor and narrow slits for vision Arming Cap 3 Quilted cap - usually of cloth occasionally of leather. Normally worn under a helm.

but often worn as protection in its own right Aspercote 8-12, or from 3-15 Body armour, sometimes of splint, but normally mail. Usually covered torso and upper arms - could have a coif,full sleeves with built-in "mittens" and fall below the knee. (Also known as Ausperg, Hauberk, Hauberg etc) Aventail 5 Guard attached to a helmet which offers some protection to the neck. Normally of mail but could be of articulated plates Backplate Covers the back of the torso. Barbet Elegant one-piece helmet with a single T-shaped opening for both vision and ventilation Barrel Helm 3-5 Heavy cylindrical metal helm that enclosed the whole head and rested on the shoulders. Heavy and hot! Bascinet 3-5 Small close fitting helm that left the face free, with a detachable visor. Ifthe visor is removed (as it often was) location 5 is not protected. Bevor Effectively a very heavy gorget, designed to be worn under a sallet Breech Mail flap that covered the groin. Breastplate Covers the front of the torso.

Brigandine 10-11, or 9-11 Armour made by rivetting small metal plates between two sheets of heavy clot or thin leather. Burgonet 3-4 Light helm, leaving the lower face free for ventilation. Sometimes combined with aventail or bevor to cover location 5 Byrnie 10-11, or up to 9-12 A chain mail vest - normally covering just the torso, but sometimes longer. Camail Chainmail guard attached to a helmet, which offers some protection to the neck. Casque 3-5 Heavy cylindrical metal helm that enclosed the whole head and rested on the shoulders. Heavy and hot! Cerveille Simple iron cap, normally worn under a mail coif, but occasionally on top of it. Chapeau-de-Fer 3-4 A large round metal "hat", which left plenty of ventilation, but also decreased protection. The broad rim did give some extra protection Chausses Leg armour, normally of mail, but occassionally of reinforced cuir boulli.

Coat-of-Plates 10-11, or up to 9-12 Armour made by rivetting small metal plates between two sheets of heavy clot or thin leather. Coif Armoured hood protecting thehead and neck. Normally of mail. but sometimes leather or even splint. Cops 7 or 15 Armour for the joints, these were called either knee-cops or elbow-cops Normally of metal, but sometimes of cuir boulli. Coude Armour for the elbows (part of a harness) Cuirass Large breast and backplate, covering the torso. Curie Breastplate and thighguards made of cuir boulli (hence the name) sometimes reinforced with metal. Cuir Boulli Leather armour, made surprisingly strong by repeated boiling (normally in oil). Cuisses Armour for the thighs. Normally metal but sometimes of cuir boulli, or even quilted armour. Epauler Fauld 12 Stomach protection. In early (transitional) plate this was seperate piece, in later armours it was incorporated into the breastplate (in function, if not name).

Gambeson Varies from 10-12 to 3-4, 7-14 A padded and quilted body armour. Unlike the aketon, the gambeson generally had sleeves, and could even have built in mittens. Gauntlets 6 Armour for the hand - could be of any material, I've even seen cuir boulli and quilted hand armour. Genouillerie Metal protection for the knees (part of a harness). Gorget 5 Prtiection for the throat. Gorgets were sometimes so large they also offered some protection in location 10 Great Helm 3-5 Heavy metal helm that enclosed the whole head and rested on the shoulders. Heavy and hot! Greave Armour for the lower leg Harness A suit of plate armour, or sometimes the components of a suit of armour (for example, leg harness, etc) Hauberk 8-12, or from 3-15 Body armour, sometimes of splint, but normally mail. Usually covered torso and upper arms - could have a coif,full sleeves with built-in "mittens" and fall below the knee.

(Also known as Ausperg, Aspercote, Hauberg etc) Heaume 3-5 Heavy cylindrical metal helm that enclosed the whole head and rested on the shoulders. Heavy and hot! Hosen Jack Varies from 10-12 to 3-4, 7-14 Padded cloth body armour, worn underneath heavier armour to absorb impact. Heavier versions were often worn by less well equipped troops or in hot weather as comfortable light armour. Jamb Armour for the lower leg (in a full suit of plate) Kettle Hat 3-4 A large round metal "hat", which left plenty of ventilation, but also decreased protection. The broad rim did give some extra protection Lamellar varies Lamellar armour is made of small, overlapping plates laced together. It could sometimes be combined with mail. The plates could be of metal, but were often of horn, which while not as tough, was much lighter. Mostly Lamellar was used for torso protection, but arm and leg protection of lamellar was not unknown. Nasal Helm 3-4 The classical "norman" helmet - a simple pointed metal helm, sitting on top of the head, with a nose guard.

Pauldron Plackart 11-12 Essentially a metal stomacher. Worn during the transitional era to offer extra protection to the stomach Plastron 10-12 Large breast and backplate, covering the torso. Sometimes of cuir boulli, but often of metal (and then called Plastron de Fer) Poleyns Armour for the knee. Normally of metal, but sometimes of cuir boulli. Rerebrace Armour for the upper arm Sabatons 17-18 Articulated metal shoes. Could have long pointy toes, or large, rounded ones - or anything in between Sallet Heavy helm that covered the head, but left the neck and chin bare for ventilation Schynbald Armour for the lower leg, normally of iron Spangelhelm 3-4 The classical "norman" helmet - a simple pointed metal helm, sitting on top of the head, usually with a nose guard. In some cases they included face protection in which case location 5 is covered. Sollerets

Question: In a suit of armour what body part do pieces called poleyns protect?
Answer: The Knees